TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed activity at Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional hubs on Tuesday following a disruption caused by Anak Krakatau’s ash cloud. Nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 passengers across the nation were affected by the volcanic emissions. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport restarted operations after authorities confirmed that ash levels had diminished. Monitoring teams recorded three smaller eruptions on Tuesday morning, and the volcano remained classified as Level III, the second-highest alert level in Indonesia.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports reopened shortly after midnight on Tuesday, with Budiarto Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport resuming services a little over two hours later. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra reopened on Monday. Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung were still under assessment. Authorities also mandated safety inspections for aircraft affected by the extended disruption before they could resume operations.
The airspace shutdown followed Anak Krakatau’s emission of ash into the skies over Jakarta and neighboring regions, leading to the suspension of operations at eight airports, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines adjusted both domestic and international schedules as ash spread across key flight routes, posing severe risks to aircraft engines and reducing visibility. Aviation officials imposed flight restrictions in monitoring zones where ash was detected. The closures triggered widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions within the country’s air travel network.
Airports recommence services after major interruption
Late Friday, Anak Krakatau entered a sustained eruptive phase in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, with continuous activity starting at 11:07 p.m. and lasting just past midnight on Sunday, approximately 25 hours. Monitoring later recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase, and earlier ash plumes soared to nearly 50,000 feet in some regions, spreading high-altitude ash across parts of western Indonesia and forcing authorities to restrict access to affected airspace.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III and enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active center. Officials recommended residents affected by ash to limit outdoor activities or wear masks, while advising coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to rely solely on official information and to avoid circulating unverified tsunami claims. Ongoing monitoring recorded persistent seismic activity and additional eruptions around the island after the eruptive phase concluded.
Passenger numbers exceed 340,000 amid ongoing disruptions
As flights gradually returned on Tuesday, airport operators worked to manage the aftermath of the shutdown. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 grounded aircraft required inspections, and flight crews received updated details on restricted airspace and ash-related hazards. Authorities continued assessing conditions at affected airports before fully restoring normal operations. This event marked one of the most significant operational challenges caused by Anak Krakatau’s activity during this eruptive period.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau emerged from the volcanic system formed by the historic Krakatau eruptions. The volcano has shown heightened activity since July 2026, with eruptions recorded during this period. A major collapse during a December 2018 eruption triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia, home to more than 100 active volcanoes, lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire where frequent earthquakes and eruptions are common, due to its position along major tectonic boundaries.